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I like paying in the store with a debit card because I can keep better track of my money. By the time I am back from the store the transaction is recorded on line. I know exactly how much I have. And it is free through E-trade.

As far as pay by check. Why be pizzed off at the check writer?? If the lines are long and you are getting upset, vent yourself to the store manager who's job it is to make sure there are enough cashiers to handle the business in a timely matter. Don't rush the little old lady so that WalMart can make a bigger profit.

They ran up a 10K bill on the card, buying motherboards for video gaming computers from Tokyo. The bank refunded everything to us.

Some facts:

- An individual is only liable for $50 of fraudulent charges on a CC. It's the law.
- An individual is liable for everything when a debit card is fraudulently used. The bank can be nice and try to recover the money, or even refund from their own, but it's up to them.
- Any place that accepts credit cards already has 3-4% surcharge built into the price, the cost of running a purchase through the credit card network
- Any place that accepts credit cards can't give you a cash discount, it's against the contract with the credit cards
- Credit cards have cash back/bonus/miles programs that return some of that 3-4% surcharge that all your purchases have

Credit cards also have other benefits and protections. Eight months ago we signed a contract with a company called Local AD link an internet advertising company. After 6-months we saw no evidence that they were doing what they promised. The person that sold us the plan called and said he found out the company was a scam and to ask for our money back. We did and they just offered more of nothing, we called Discover and filled a complaint. Discover refunded our money and investigated and finalized the credit in full.

This notion that debit cards are not protected to the extent credit cards are is untrue. Flat out incorrect. I always thought they were not protected too.

But.

I was listening to Dave Ramsey last week, and he had a whole segment on this, due to a bank guy somewhere in a national newspaper who purported the false claim of debit cards not being provided the same protections as credit cards.

He put it to rest. Clark Howard also claims this. Debit cards are afforded the exact same protections as a regular credit card if it is issued by VISA or MASTERCARD.

This notion that debit cards are not protected to the extent credit cards are is untrue. Flat out incorrect. I always thought they were not protected too.

But.

I was listening to Dave Ramsey last week, and he had a whole segment on this, due to a bank guy somewhere in a national newspaper who purported the false claim of debit cards not being provided the same protections as credit cards.

He put it to rest. Clark Howard also claims this. Debit cards are afforded the exact same protections as a regular credit card if it is issued by VISA or MASTERCARD.

It even says so on their websites.

As Dave says, If you play with the snakes long enough your goin to get bit. I don't use credit cards. I carry a visa check card for both my business and personal. I used to use checks for the business but now they just scan them and hand them back. So why fight the trend.

"Thinking is the hardest work there is, which is probably the reason why so few engage in it." Henry Ford

My bank now will record the debit as fast 10 minutes after I use it when I go online and check my bank account. That is fantastic. If I buy something as a debit instead of buying with the debit as a charge. Charge buying takes longer to show up. Don't ask me why this is, I don't know.

There have been places I have gone to to buy something and they won't do the debit but accept the debit as a charge. I will walk out. I am thinking the merchant fees somehow benefit them as charges and not as debits.

I write 3 checks a month for utilities, really should get them switched over to automatic withdraw someday. I'll admit I don't use cash very often since I rarely go to the bank to get cash (nor ATMs).

I have a debit card through my bank, I also have a credit card through my bank with a whopping 10% interest, tough to beat that.

I used to use the credit card all the time and just pay it off, then I got the debit card and use it 99% of the time now. I should go back to the credit card, I get some small % back for using it, free money is free money!

I do however use my credit card now solely for work related expenses (that they pay back). I was using my debit card, but with how they pay you back it's impossible to make sure you get all your $ back. Kinda irks me that I work for a multi billion/trillion dollar company and they require us to use our money for so much and are so leisurely at paying it back (usually 2-4 weeks)

This notion that debit cards are not protected to the extent credit cards are is untrue. Flat out incorrect. I always thought they were not protected too.

But.

I was listening to Dave Ramsey last week, and he had a whole segment on this, due to a bank guy somewhere in a national newspaper who purported the false claim of debit cards not being provided the same protections as credit cards.

He put it to rest. Clark Howard also claims this. Debit cards are afforded the exact same protections as a regular credit card if it is issued by VISA or MASTERCARD.

It even says so on their websites.

Visa's guarantees are not the same as protection by federal laws.

1Covers U.S.-issued cards only. Does not apply to ATM transactions, PIN transactions not processed by Visa, or certain commercial card transactions. Individual provisional credit amounts are provided on a provisional basis and may be withheld, delayed, limited, or rescinded by your issuer based on factors such as gross negligence or fraud, delay in reporting unauthorized use, investigation and verification of claim and account standing and history. You must notify your financial institution immediately of any unauthorized use. Transaction at issue must be posted to your account before provisional credit may be issued. For specific restrictions, limitations and other details, please consult your issuer.

Loopholes to possibly deny any claim when times are tough. Sorry, you didn't report unauthorized use fast enough! Or any other excuse they can use from "other details".

Yeagh fuji but at this point and going forward with the incredible growth of the use of Debit cards, they don;t have a choice but to afford you the same protections or they will lose the business. Someone will step in and do it otherwise. You got that excerpt from where I don't know but what I read on Visa's website per the link I posted, it states "ZERO LIABILITY PROTECTION" with another link and it says you have to comply by reporting with in 30 days. To me that's fair enough and long enough.

And I say that taking you at word for the federal law. I am not sure what the federal law does in fact provide for.